Sulphurous acid generator with air injector

ABSTRACT

This invention presents a sulphurous acid generator which employs a combination of novel blending contact and mixing mechanisms which maximize the efficiency and duration of contact between sulphur dioxide gas and water enriched with air/oxygen to form sulphurous acid in an open nonpressurized system, without employing a countercurrent absorption tower.

“This application is a continuation-in-part application and claimspriority to application Ser. No. 09/131,121, filed Aug. 7, 1998,entitled, “Open System Sulphurous Acid Generator,” now U.S. Pat. No.6,080,368, issued Jun. 27, 2000.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

Only a fraction of the earth's total water supply is available andsuitable for agriculture, industry and domestic needs. The demand forwater is great and new technologies together with growing populationsincrease the demand for water while pollution diminishes the limitedsupply of usable water. The growing demand for water requires efficientuse of available water resources.

Agricultural use of water places a large demand on the world's watersupply. In some communities, the water supply may be adequate forfarming but the quality of the water is unsuitable for agriculturebecause the water is alkaline. Alkalinity is an important factoraffecting the quality, efficiency and performance of soil and irrigationwater. A relative increase in irrigation alkalinity due to the water'ssodium to calcium ratio or a high pH renders irrigation waterdetrimental to soil, crop growth and irrigation water efficiency. Suchwater can be reclaimed for soil rehabilitation and irrigation by addinglower pH sulphurous acid to the alkaline water to reduce its alkalinityor pH.

The invention of this application is directed toward a device whichgenerates sulphurous acid in a simplified, efficient way. In particular,it is directed toward a sulphurous acid generator which producessulphurous acid by burning sulphur to produce sulphur dioxide gas. Thesulphur dioxide gas is then drawn toward and held in contact withair-injected water eventually reacting with the water and producingsulphurous acid, while virtually eliminating dangerous emissions ofsulphur dioxide gas to the air.

2. The Relevant Technology

There are several sulphurous acid generators in the art. The prior artdevices utilize sulphur burn chambers and absorption towers. However,known systems utilize countercurrent current flow or pressurized systemsas the principle means to accomplish the generation of sulphurous acid.For example, many devices employ the absorption tower to introduce themajority of the water to the system in countercurrent flow to the flowof sulphur dioxide gas. U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,771 teaches introducing 90%of the system water for the first time in countercurrent flow at the topof the absorption tower. In such devices, the integrity of theabsorption towers is vital, and any deficiencies or inefficiencies ofthe absorption tower lead to diminished reaction and results. Otherdevices utilize pressurized gas to facilitate flow of gas through thesystem, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,226,201. Pressurized devices, however,require expensive manufacture to ensure the containment of dangeroussulphur dioxide gas to avoid leakage. Even negative pressure machineshave the drawback of requiring a source of energy to power the negativepressure generator such as an exhaust fan. Still other devices rely uponsecondary combustion chambers to further oxidize the sulphur, see U.S.Pat. No. 4,526,771. Many sulphurous acid generators emit significant ordangerous levels of unreacted sulphur dioxide gas, a harmful and noxiouspollutant, into the surrounding environment.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a sulphurous acid generator whichcan be used to improve alkaline irrigation water by adding thesulphurous acid produced by the generator to alkaline water to reducethe alkalinity and/or pH of the water. In addition to making the waterless alkaline, adding sulphurous acid to alkaline water increases theavailability of sulphur in the water to act as a nutrient, improvescapillary action of the soil, increases cation exchange capacity, anddecreases tail water run-off and tillage and fertilizer costs.

In many agricultural settings, complicated farm machinery is notpractical because it requires technical training to operate and specialskills to service and maintain. For sulphur generators, improved designcan reduce costs, simplify operation, service and maintenance andincrease efficiency and safety thereby making the machine more practicalfor agricultural use. The present invention is directed toward asulphurous acid generator that is simple to produce, operate, serviceand maintain, and which efficiency produces, contains and reacts sulphurdioxide gas and sulphurous acid without exposing the user or otherliving things in proximity to the machine to dangerous sulphur dioxideemissions.

It will be appreciated that a specific energy source is not necessarilyrequired by the present invention, and therefore its use is notnecessarily restricted to locations where a particular power source,like electricity, is available or can be generated for use. All of theabove objectives are met by the present invention.

Unlike the prior art, the present invention is designed to maximize theamount of air/oxygen enriched water in contact with sulphur dioxide gasand the duration of the contact of water with sulphur dioxide gaswithout creating any significant back pressure in the system or relyingupon pressurization or elevated temperature of the gas to cause thesulphur dioxide gas to flow through the sulphurous acid generator. Thisreduces the complexity of the sulphurous acid generator and the need foradditional equipment such as air compressors used by prior art devices.

The invention primarily relates to a sulphur hopper, a burn chamber, anair injector, a gas pipeline, a mixing tank, and an exhaust pipeline.

The sulphur hopper preferably has a capacity of several hundred poundsof sulphur in powder or flake form. The sulphur hopper can beconstructed of various materials or combinations thereof. In thepreferred embodiment, the sulphur hopper is constructed of stainlesssteel and plastic. The sulphur hopper is connected to the burn chamberby a passageway positioned at the base of the sulphur hopper. Theconduit joins the burn chamber at its base. The weight of the sulphur inthe sulphur hopper forces sulphur through the passageway at the base andinto the bum chamber, providing a continual supply of sulphur forburning. The flow of sulphur may be augmented using an anti-cavitationrake or scraper.

The burn chamber has an ignition inlet on the top of the bum chamberthrough which the sulphur is ignited and an air inlet on the side of thechamber through which oxygen enters to fuel the burning sulphur. Theburning sulphur generates sulphur dioxide gas. In the preferredembodiment, the bottom of the chamber is removable, facilitating accessto the chamber for maintenance and service. The burn chamber isconstructed of material capable of withstanding the corrosiveness of thesulphur and the heat of combustion, preferably stainless steel.

Sulphur dioxide gas exits the burn chamber through an exhaust outlet onthe top of the burn chamber and is drawn into a first conduit. The firstconduit may be manufactured from stainless steel.

A supply of water is conducted by a second conduit and may be broughtfrom a water source through the second conduit by any means capable ofdelivering sufficient water and pressure, such as an elevated water tankor a mechanical or electric pump. Along the length of the secondconduit, air with its oxygen component is injected into the ambientwater.

The first conduit and second conduit meet and couple with a thirdconduit. The third conduit comprises a blending portion, a contactcontainment portion, an agitation portion and a means for dischargingthe sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas. In the thirdconduit, the sulphur dioxide gas and air/oxygen enriched water arebrought in contact with each other to form sulphurous acid. The thirdconduit may be constructed of polyethylene plastic.

The blending portion of the third conduit comprises a means for bringingthe sulphur dioxide gas in the first conduit and the water in the secondconduit into contained, codirectional flow into contact with each other.The majority of water used to create sulphurous acid in the system andmethod is introduced into the third conduit and flows through one ormore contact containment and agitation portions in the third conduitthrough the contact means. Thereafter, the water and sulphur dioxide gasflow through one or more contact containments, discharging naturally bygravity into a mixing tank.

Water is introduced into the third conduit in co-directional flow withthe sulphur dioxide gas so as to create an annular column of water withthe sulphur dioxide gas flowing inside the annular column of waterthereby blending the water and sulphur dioxide gas together. In thepreferred embodiment, water is introduced into the gas pipeline andpasses through an eductor, which causes sulphur dioxide gas to be drawnthrough the first conduit without the need of pressuring the sulphurdioxide gas and without using an exhaust fan. The water and sulphurdioxide gas remain in contact with each other for the period of time ittakes to flow through a portion of the third conduit. In the contactarea, a portion of the sulphur dioxide gas reacts with the water,creating sulphurous acid.

The agitation portion comprises a means for mixing and agitating thecodirectionally flowing sulphur dioxide gas and water/sulphurous acid.The agitation portions enhance sulphur dioxide gas reaction anddispersion. Bends in the third conduit or obstructions within the thirdconduit are contemplated as possible means for mixing and agitating inthe agitation portion. Agitation of the co-directional flow of thesulphur dioxide gas and water further facilitates reaction of thesulphur dioxide gas with water into a mixing pool. Sulphurous acid andsulphur dioxide gas flow out of the third conduit through means fordischarging the sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas.

A discharge outlet represents a possible embodiment of means fordischarging the sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas. Thedischarge outlet permits conduit contents to enter a gas submersionzone.

The sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas exit the thirdconduit through the discharge and enter a mixing tank. In oneembodiment, a weir divides the mixing tank into two sections, namely apooling section and an effluent or outlet section. Sulphurous acid andsulphur dioxide gas exit the discharge of the third conduit into thepooling section. As the sulphurous acid pours into the mixing tank, itcreates a pool of sulphurous acid equal in depth to the height of theweir. At all times, the sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxidegas discharge from the third conduit above the level of the liquid inthe pooling section of the mixing tank.

In other words, the discharge from the third conduit is positionedsufficiently above the surface of the pool, so that sulphur dioxide gasexiting the pipeline can pass directly into and be submerged within thepool while in an open (nonclosed) arrangement. In other words, thedischarge from the third conduit does not create any significant backpressure on the flow of sulphurous acid or sulphur dioxide gas in thethird conduit or gas pipeline. Nevertheless, the close vertical positionof the discharge from the third conduit above the surface of the poolreduces the likelihood that the unreacted sulphur dioxide gas will exitfrom the discharge without being submerged in the pool. The discharge isremoved a distance from the sidewall of the mixing tank toward thecenter of the pooling section to allow the pool to be efficientlychurned by the inflow of sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxidegas from the third conduit.

As acidic water and gas continue to enter the mixing tank from the thirdconduit, the level of the pool eventually exceeds the height of theweir. Sulphurous acid spills over the weir and into the effluent oroutlet section of the mixing tank where the sulphurous acid exits themixing tank through an effluent outlet. The top of the effluent outletis positioned below height of the weir and the discharge from the thirdconduit in order to reduce the amount of free floating unreacted sulphurdioxide gas exiting the chamber through the effluent outlet. Freefloating, unreacted sulphur dioxide gas remaining in the mixing tankrises up to the top of the mixing tank. The top of the mixing tank isadapted with a lid. Under dissolved sulphur dioxide bubbles flowingthrough the affluent outlet are trapped by a standard u-trap, forcingaccumulated bubbles back into the mixing tank while sulfurous acid exitsthe system through a first discharge pipe.

To ensure further elimination of any significant emissions of sulphurdioxide gas from the generator into the environment, the sulphur dioxidegas remaining in the mixing tank may be drawn into an exhaust conduitcoupled with an exhaust vent on the lid of the mixing tank. The exhaustconduit defines a fourth conduit. Positioned in the fourth conduit is ameans for introducing water into the fourth conduit. The water whichenters the fourth conduit may be brought from a water source by anymeans capable of delivering sufficient water to the fourth conduit. Asthe water is introduced into the fourth conduit, it reacts with thesulphur dioxide gas that has migrated out through the lid of the mixingtank of the absorption tower, and creates sulphurous acid.

In the preferred embodiment, water introduced into the fourth conduit,passes through a second eductor causing the sulphur dioxide gas to bedrawn through the vent and into the fourth conduit. The gas and waterare contained in contact as they move through one or more contactcontainment and/or agitation portions of the fourth conduit. Sulphurousacid exits the fourth conduit through a second discharge pipe. In apreferred embodiment, the second discharge pipe also comprises a u-trapconfiguration, upstream from the u-trap, a thin stack permits reactivegases to discharge from the system.

The fourth conduit may be constructed of high density polyethyleneplastic. High density polyethylene plastic is preferred for itsdurability and resistance to ultra violet ray degradation. It is anotherobject of this invention to eliminate the countercurrent absorptionpowers of the prior art.

As mentioned, the water introduced into the system to the third conduitand fourth conduit may be brought from a water source to the system byany means capable of delivering sufficient water and pressure, such as astanding, elevated water tank, or mechanical, electric or diesel poweredwater pump.

It is an object of this invention to create a sulfurous acid generatorthat is simple to manufacture, use, maintain and service.

It is further an object of this invention to create a sulfurous acidgenerator that is capable of operating without any electrical equipmentsuch as pumps, air compressor or exhaust fans requiring a specificenergy source requirement, such as electricity or diesel fuels.

It is also an object of this invention to provided air/oxygen enrichedwater for reaction with the sulphur dioxide gas.

It is another object of this invention to produce a sulphurous acidgenerator which converts substantially all sulfur dioxide gas generatedinto sulphurous acid.

It is another object of the invention to produce a sulfurous acidgenerator which uses an induced draw created by the flow of waterthrough the system to draw gases through the otherwise open system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sulphurous acidgenerator with one or more contact containment and/or agitation andmixing mechanisms to increase the duration of time during which thesulphur dioxide gas is in contact with and mixed with water.

It is an object of this invention to produce a sulphurous acid generatorwhich substantially eliminates emission of harmful sulphur dioxide gas.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following description and appendedclaims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantagesand objects of the invention are obtained, a more particular descriptionof the invention briefly depicted above will be rendered by reference toa specific embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appendeddrawings. With the understanding that these drawings depict only atypical embodiment of the invention and are not therefore to beconsidered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be describedand explained with additional specificity and detail through the use ofthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the sulphurous acidgenerator.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view partly in cutaway cross-section of thecomponents of the sulphurous acid generator.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of a third conduit.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of a fourth conduit.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart explaining the inventive process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Including by reference the figures listed above, applicant's sulfurousacid generator comprises a system which generates sulphur dioxide gasand keeps the gas substantially contained and in contact with water forextended periods of time substantially, eliminating any significantrelease of harmful sulphur dioxide gas from the system. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the principle elements comprise a sulphur hopper 20, aburn chamber 40, a gas pipeline 70, a mixing tank 130, and an exhaustconduit 210. The principle elements are mounted on a platform 10 tofacilitate transport.

The sulphur hopper 20 comprises enclosure 24 with a top surface 26. Thetop surface 26 defines a closeable aperture, not shown. Enclosure 24 maybe of any geometric shape; cylindrical is shown, rectangular may also beemployed. Surface 26 of enclosure 24 comprises a closeable aperture ofsufficient diameter and shape to allow sulphur to be loaded into thehopper 20. The enclosure 24 defines a hopper outlet 30. The hopper 20 isconfigured such that sulphur in the hopper 20 is directed toward thehopper outlet 30 by the pull of gravity. The hopper outlet 30 allowssulphur to pass through and out of the hopper 20.

A passageway conduit 36 communicates between the hopper outlet 30 a burnchamber inlet 50 of the burn chamber 40.

In an alternative embodiment, enclosure 24 may include a rocker arm 21mounted external of enclosure 24. Rocker arm 21 is capable of beingmoved back and forth as shown by arrow 23. Connected to substantiallyvertical rocker arm 21, and extending internal to enclosure 24, is bar25 having substantially upward extending of fingers 27. Fingers 27extend upward into the sulphur supply such rocker arm 23 can bemanipulated back and forth, thereby manipulating or raking fingers 27back and forth to aviate incavitation of sulphur that may occur inhopper 20.

The burn chamber 40 comprises a floor member 42, a chamber sidewall 44and a roof member 46. The floor member 42 defines a perimeter and thefloor member 42 is removably attached to the chamber sidewall 44. Theroof member 46 is secured to the chamber sidewall 44, the chambersidewall 44 supporting the roof member 46. An ignition inlet 52 definedby the roof member 46 has a removably attached ignition inlet cover 54.An air inlet 56 defined by the chamber sidewall 44 has a removablyattached air inlet cover 58. The air inlet 56 is positionedsubstantially opposite to the conduit inlet 50 and may enter the chambersidewall 44 tangentially. An exhaust opening 60 in the burn chamber 40is defined by the roof member 46.

Sulphur supplied to the burn chamber 40 through the conduit inlet 50 canbe ignited through the ignition inlet 52. The air inlet 56 allowsoxygen, necessary for the combustion process, to enter into the burnchamber 40 and thus permits regulation of the rate of combustion. Theexhaust opening 60 allows the sulphur dioxide gas to pass up through theexhaust opening 60 and into the gas pipeline 70.

The gas pipeline 70 has two ends, the first end 78 communicating withthe exhaust opening 60, the second end terminating at a third conduit76. The gas pipeline or first conduit 70 may comprise an ascending pipe72 and a transverse pipe 74. The ascending pipe 72 may communicate withthe transverse pipe 74 by means a first 90 degree elbow joint. Disposedabout and secured to the ascending pipe 72 is a protective grate 90 toprevent unintended external contact with member 72 which is hot when inuse.

Water is conducted through a second conduit 282 to a point at which thesecond conduit 282 couples with the first conduit 70 at a third conduit76. Along the length of second conduit 282, an injector 283 dispersesadditional air into the water. In most applications, and those in whichthe present invention is used to increase the growth of crops and thelike, ambient air has an oxygen component. Air can be injected into thewater by creating a differential pressure along the length of the watersuch that air is drawn into the water. Air injectors are known. Thepreferred air injector is the Mazzei® Injector from Mazzei InjectorCorporation, Bakersfield, Calif., United States of America. Equivalentdevices will be known or readily discoverable by those skilled in theart. The air injector entrains additional air in the water stream.Entraining additional air in the water provides a stream of waterenriched with air/oxygen. Water enriched with air/oxygen enhances thereaction rate of the water with the sulphur dioxide gas in thegeneration of intermediary sulphurous anhydride and ultimately ofsulphurous acid. The inclusion of an air injector has the advantage ofproducing results significantly better than the performance of the priorart. Furthermore, like the other components of the present invention,the preferred air injector has no moving parts in operation.

Conduit 76 comprises a means 100 for bringing the sulphur dioxide gas inthe first conduit and substantially all the water in second conduit 282into contained codirectional flow whereby the sulphur dioxide gas andwater are brought into contact with each other.

The codirectional flow means 100 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises acentral body 102, the central body defining a gas entry 104 and a sulfurdioxide gas exiting outlet 114, the central body comprising a secondaryconduit inlet 106, a cooling ring outlet 108, an emitter and an eductor112. The eductor 112 generates an annular column of water to encirclegas exiting outlet 114. The nature of this water flow is believed toassist in drawing sulphur dioxide gas from the bum chamber 40 into thegas pipeline 70 where the gas is brought into contact with water tocreate sulphurous acid.

The codirection flow means 100 allows water to be introduced into thethird conduit 76 initially through a second conduit inlet 106. The waterentering the codirectional means 100 passes through the eductor 112 and,exits adjacent the sulphur dioxide gas outlet 114. The water enters thethird conduit 76 and comes into contact with the sulphur dioxide gas bysurrounding the sulphur dioxide gas where the sulphur dioxide gas andwater are contained in contact with each other. The water and sulphurdioxide gas react to form an acid of sulphur. This first contactcontainment portion of conduit 76 does not obstruct the flow of thesulphur dioxide gas. It is believed that a substantial portion of thesulphur dioxide gas will react with the water in this first contactcontainment area.

After the acid and any host water (hereafter “water/acid”) and anyremaining unreacted gas continue to flow through third conduit 76, thewater/acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas are mixed and agitated tofurther facilitate reaction of the sulphur dioxide with the water/acid.Means for mixing and agitating the flow of water/acid and sulphurdioxide gas is accomplished in a number of ways. For example, as shownin FIG. 2, mixing and agitating can be accomplished by changing thedirection of the flow such as a bend 84 in the third conduit 76. Anotherexample includes placing an object 77 inside the third conduit 76 toalter the flow pattern in the third conduit 76. This could entail a flowaltering wedge, flange, bump or other member along the codirectionalflow path in third conduit 76. By placing an object in the flow path, astraight or substantially straight conduit may be employed. Thedistinction of this invention over the prior art is mixing and agitatingthe flow of water/acid and sulphur dioxide involving substantially allof the water of the system with sulphur dioxide gas in an opencodirectionally flowing system. One embodiment of the present inventioncan treat between 50 and 300 gallons of water per minute coursingthrough third conduit 76 being held in contained contact with thesulphur dioxide gas.

After the water/acid and sulphur dioxide gas have passed through anagitation and mixing portion of third conduit 76, the water/acid andunreacted sulphur dioxide gas are again contained in contact with eachother to further facilitate reaction between the components to create anacid of sulphur. This is accomplished by means for containing thewater/acid and sulphur dioxide gas in contact with each other. Oneembodiment is shown in FIG. 2 as a portion 85 of third conduit 76.Portion 85 acts much in the same way as the earlier described contactcontainment portion.

In a preferred embodiment, additional means for mixing and agitating thecodirectional flow of water/acid and sulphur dioxide gas is employed.One embodiment is illustrated as portion 86 of third conduit 76 in whichagain the directional flow of the water/acid and sulphur dioxide gas isdirectionally altered. In this way, the water/acid and sulphur dioxidegas are forced to mix and agitate, further facilitating reaction of thesulphur dioxide gas to further produce or concentrate an acid ofsulphur.

Third conduit 76 also incorporates means for discharging the water/acidand unreacted sulphur dioxide gas before the various third conduit 76.One embodiment is shown in FIG. 2 as discharge opening 80 defined bythird conduit 76. Discharge opening 80 is preferably positionedapproximately in the center of the pooling section, described below. Inthe preferred embodiment, discharge 80 is configured so as to direct thedischarge of water/acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas downward intoa submersion pool 158 without creating a back pressure. In other words,discharge 80 is sufficiently close to the surface 133 of the fluid inthe submersion pool to cause unreacted sulphur dioxide gas to be forcedinto the submersion pool, but not below the surface of the fluid in thesubmersion pool, thereby maintaining the open nature of the system andto avoid creating back pressure in the system.

The present invention also utilizes a tank 130 having a bottom 132, atank sidewall 134, and a lid 164. Tank 130 may also comprise a fluiddispersion member 137 to disperse churning sulphurous acid and sulphurdioxide gas throughout tank 130. Dispersion member 137 may have aconical shape or any other shape which facilitates dispersion. A weir148 maybe attached on one side to the bottom member 132 and is attachedon two sides to the tank sidewall 134. The weir 148 extends upwardly toa distance stopping below the discharge 80. The weir 148 divides themixing tank 130 into a submersion pool 158 and an outlet section 152.The third conduit 76 penetrates the tank sidewall 134 at a point belowthe lid 164. An outlet aperture 154 is positioned in the tank sidewall134 near the bottom member 132 in the discharge section. The drainageaperture 154 is connected to a drainage pipe 156. Drainage pipe 156 isadapted with a u-trap 157. U-trap 157 acts as means to force levels ofgas of undissolved gas for sulphur dioxide gas back into chamber 130 toexit through lid 164 into vent conduit 210.

As sulphurous acid flows out of the third conduit 76, the weir 148 damsthe acid coming into the mixing tank 130 creating a churning submissionpool 158 of sulphurous acid. Sulphur dioxide gas carried by but not yetreacted in the sulphurous acid is carried into submersion pool of acid158 because of the proximity of the discharge 80 to the surface 133 ofthe pool 158. The carried gas is submerged in the churning submersionpool 158. The suspended gas is momentarily churned in contact with acidin pool 158 to further concentrate the acid. As unreacted gas rises upthrough the pool, the unreacted gas is held in contact with water andfurther reacts to further form concentrate sulphurous acid. Thecombination of the discharge 80 and its close proximity to the surface133 of pool of acid 158 creates a means for facilitating and maintainingthe submersion of unreacted sulphur dioxide gas discharged from thethird conduit into the submersion pool of sulphurous acid tosubstantially reduce the separation of unreacted sulphur dioxide gasfrom contact with the sulphurous acid to promote further reaction of thesulphur dioxide gas in the sulphurous acid in an open system withoutsubjecting the sulphur dioxide gas discharged from the third conduit toback pressure or system pressure. That is, discharge 80 positions belowthe level of the top of weir 148 is contemplated as inconsistent with anopen system.

As sulphurous acid enters the mixing tank 130 from the third conduit 76the level of the pool 132 of sulphurous acid rises until the acid spillsover the weir 148 into the outlet section 152. Sulphurous acid andsulphur dioxide gas flow out of the mixing tank 130 into the drainagepipe 156. Drainage pipe 156 is provided with a submersion zone in theu-trap 157 in which sulphur dioxide gas is again mixed into thesulphurous acid and which prevents sulphur dioxide gas from exiting thedrainage pipe 156 in any significant amount.

Any free floating sulphur dioxide gas in mixing tank 130 rises up to thelid 164. The lid 164 defines an exhaust vent 202. Exhaust vent 202 maybe coupled with a vent conduit 210. The vent conduit 210 has a first endwhich couples with the exhaust vent 202 and a second end whichterminates at a fourth conduit 220. The vent conduit 210 may consist ofa length a pipe between vent 202 and the fourth conduit 220. The fourthconduit 220 comprises auxiliary means 240 for bringing sulphur dioxidegas in the vent conduit and substantially all the water in asupplemental water conduit 294 into contained, codirectional flowwhereby remaining sulphur dioxide gas and water are brought into contactwith each other.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the auxiliary means has a body 240 defining agas entry 244, a gas outlet 252, a supplemental water conduit inlet 246,and water eductor 250.

Water enters the auxiliary means 240 through the supplemental waterconoduit 294 at inlet 246. The water courses through the eductor asdiscussed earlier as to the codirectional means. The water eductor 250draws any free floating sulphur dioxide gas into the exhaust ventconduit 210. Water and sulphur dioxide gas are brought into contact witheach other in fourth conduit 220 by surrounding the gas with water. Thewater and gas are contained in contact with each other as the gas andwater flow down through fourth conduit 220 to react and form an acid ofsulphur. This contact containment area does not obstruct the flow of thesulphur dioxide gas. Substantially all of the sulphur dioxide gas invent conduit 210 reacts with the water in this contact containment area.

In fourth conduit 220, the water/acid and un-reacted or undissolvedsulphur dioxide gas also experience one or more agitation and mixingepisodes. For example, as water re-enters fourth conduit 220 at inlet246, the flow of water/acid and sulphur dioxide gas is mixed andagitated. The water/acid and sulphur dioxide gas are again contained incontact with each other thereafter. Another similar mixing and agitatingepisode occurs when the directional flow of the water/acid and sulphurdioxide gas is altered near discharge 264. As a result, like thewater/acid and sulphur dioxide gas in the third conduit 76, thewater/acid and sulphur dioxide gas in fourth conduit 220 may be subjectto one or more contact containment portions and one or more agitationand mixing portions. The fourth conduit may have a u-trap 267. U-trap267 acts as means to cause bubbles of unabsorbed diatomic nitrogen gasto be held on the upstream side of u-trap 267. Discharge 264 is alsoconfigured with a vent stack 265. Remaining diatomic nitrogen gas in thesystem is permitted to escape the system through vent stack 265.Operation of the system reveals that little, if any, sulphur dioxide gasescapes the system. It is believed that gas that is escaping the systemis harmless diatomic nitrogen. This configuration of a sulphur acidgenerator eliminates the structure, expense, and use of a countercurrent absorption tower as used in the prior art.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a primary pump 280 supplying water through aprimary hose 282 to the secondary conduit water inlet 106 atcodirectional means 100. In FIG. 2, a supplemental or secondary pumpsupplies water to auxiliary means 240 through a supplemental waterconduit hose 294. It will be appreciated that any pump capable ofdelivering sufficient water to the system may be utilized and the pumpmay be powered by any source sufficient to run the pump. A single pumpwith the appropriate valving may be used or several pumps may be used.It is also contemplated that no pump is necessary at all if an elevatedwater tank is employed to provide sufficient water flow to the system orif present water systems provide sufficient water pressure and flow.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:
 1. A sulphurous acid generator comprising: a supply ofsulphur dioxide gas conducted in a first conduit and means for drawingthe sulphur dioxide gas through the first conduit; a supply of waterconducted in a second conduit; an air injector along the length of thesecond conduit, the air injector dispersing additional air/oxygen intothe water to enhance the reaction rate of the water with the sulphurdioxide gas; and a third conduit comprising: a blending portion, atleast one contact containment portion, and at least one agitationportion, the blending portion comprising means for bringing the sulphurdioxide gas in the first conduit and substantially all the water in thesecond conduit into contained, co-directional flow whereby the sulphurdioxide gas and water are brought into contact with each other, thecontact containment portion(s) comprising a passageway through which thesulphur dioxide gas and substantially all the water co-directionallyflow in contact with each other and in which at least a portion of thesulphur dioxide gas reacts with water in an oxidation reaction to formsulphurous acid, the agitation portion(s) comprising means for mixingand agitating the co-directionally flowing sulphur dioxide gas andwater/sulphurous acid to facilitate the reaction and dispersement ofsulphur dioxide gas with the water/sulphurous acid, and means fordischarging the sulphurous acid and un-reacted sulphur dioxide gas fromthe third conduit, the first and third conduits defining an open systemthereby avoiding subjecting the sulphur dioxide gas to a systempressure; a mixing tank for further maintaining sulphur dioxide incontact with system fluid; and means for trapping undissolved gases fromfluid discharged from the system.
 2. The sulphurous acid generator ofclaim 1 further comprising: means for facilitating and maintaining thesubmersion of un-reacted sulphur dioxide gas discharged from the thirdconduit into the submersion pool of sulphurous acid to substantiallyreduce the separation of un-reacted sulphur dioxide gas from contactwith the sulphurous acid to promote further reaction of the sulphurdioxide gas into the sulphurous acid; and the mixing tank defining anoutlet through which the sulphurous acid may pass to exit the mixingtank, the mixing tank, the facilitating and maintaining means, and theoutlet defining an open system thereby avoiding subjecting the sulphurdioxide gas to a system pressure, the mixing tank having a lid with anexhaust vent through which undissolved gases exit the mixing tank. 3.The sulphurous acid generator of claim 2 further comprising: a supply ofun-reacted sulphur dioxide gas conducted in a vent conduit incommunication with the exhaust vent and means for drawing the sulphurdioxide gas through the vent conduit; a supply of water conducted in asupplemental water conduit; a fourth conduit comprising: a blendingportion, at least one contact containment portion, and at least oneagitation portion; the blending portion comprising means for bringingthe sulphur dioxide gas in the vent conduit and substantially all thewater in the supplemental water conduit into contained, co-directionalflow whereby the sulphur dioxide gas and water are brought into contactwith each other, the contact containment portion(s) comprising apassageway through which the sulphur dioxide gas and substantially allthe water co-directionally flow in contact with each other and in whichat least a portion of the sulphur dioxide gas reacts with the water inan oxidation reaction to form sulphurous acid, the agitation portion(s)comprising means for mixing and agitating the co-directionally flowingsulphur dioxide gas and water/sulphurous acid to facilitate the reactionand dispersement of sulphur dioxide gas into the water/sulphurous acid,and means for discharging the sulphurous acid and any un-reacted sulphurdioxide gas, the means for discharging the sulphurous acid having asubmersion zone to substantially trap undissolved gases from passingfrom the system with the flow of discharged fluid.